On The Horizon
Together, we are building a tomorrow that is better than today. I am excited to highlight:
Two grant funding opportunities for local initiatives helping people to improve their lives, and 2 free tax prep programs that can help families access the refunds they’ve earned (but often leave unclaimed).
Progress toward maternal and infant health being made by Bridgeport Prospers and partners—both locally and statewide (spoiler alert: it involves doulas).
Corporate volunteerism by partners who recently stepped up to collect and donate supplies to local families in need.
Please read on to see what your partnership makes possible.
Gratefully,
Jeff
New Impact Philanthropy Grants: Committee Will Invest $300K to Address Local Problems
Now its second year, the Impact Philanthropy Committee is preparing to award community grants totaling over $300,000. Grants of $15,000-30,000 each will be invested in initiatives working to address the most pressing problems in a local community, in one of the 3 United Way’s three focus areas:
Healthy & Wellness
School Readiness & Success
Financial Stability
All applications will be judged on their ability to promote gender and racial/ethnic equity, as well as community impact, innovation, collaboration, and community engagement. The RFP will be released at the end of February, with applications due in mid-March. Grants will be announced in late May.
The Committee consists of 15 members, including Community Members (4), United Way Directors (5), and Staff (6).
If you know of a worthy organization doing terrific work to improve lives, please pass along our RFP (coming soon!). See the inspiring work of last year’s Spring 2021 grantees here.
Free Tax Preparation: VITA & My Free Taxes
United Way is committed to promoting the financial stability of every person in every one of our communities. That’s why we’re proud to fund two free tax preparation programs for filers in our area:
1. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) offers income tax preparation assistance for low to moderate income households, including the elderly, disabled, and limited-English speakers in households earning less than $58,000. In VITA, IRS-certified volunteers will prepare tax returns for free, with an eye toward helping filers claim important credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Last year, IRS-certified preparers in Fairfield County prepared helped 3,345 hard-working Bridgeport families claim $5.6 MM in refunds and save $1MM in tax prep fees.
VITA sites are located in a variety of local venues including libraries, senior centers, and community centers. Find one near you at: http://www.211ct.org/ or on our resources page.
2. My Free Taxes is available to those with incomes above $58,000 who would like to file taxes by themselves. It’s the only free national online tax filing product offered by a non-profit. To date, United Way has made this available to over 1.3 MM people in the US. See MyFreeTaxes.com
Toward Improving Maternal & Infant Health: Doula Care as part of the Healthcare System
The health and well-being of mothers, infants, and children has long been considered a key indication of community health and critical to a nation’s future well-being and prosperity. But consider this:
US rates of maternal mortality are among the worst in the developed world. And they’ve been growing, while declining in other countries.
The prenatal-to-age three period is foundational to all future learning, behavior and health. At this time, babies’ brains develop faster than at any other time in life, with more that than one million new brain connections forming every second.
Maternal and infant health vary widely by race and ethnicity: Black women are more than twice as likely to die from childbirth complications as their white counterparts. Black infants are more than 3 times as likely to die, and Hispanic infants are more than 1.5 times as likely to die as babies born to non-Hispanic whites.
Believing that we must do better for the health of parents and babies, Bridgeport Prospers is collaborating with local and state partners to incorporate Doula Care into the Connecticut healthcare system. Data show that Doula Care reduces health disparities and improves outcomes for both birthing parents and their babies:
For birthing parents: shorter labor; fewer costly/risky interventions (use of cesareans, medications, forceps); lower rates of postpartum depression and chronic health conditions
For babies: higher Apgar (health) scores, higher rates of breast feeding, lower rates of pre-term birth and low birthweight
Through Bridgeport Prospers’ partnerships, the United Way is now serving as grant fiduciary for two local efforts working to incorporate doula care into routine maternal healthcare:
Doula Coalition, Grant from CT Health Foundation: support for incorporating doula voice into the design of healthcare policy and delivery system (certification, payment, scope of practice)
Earth’s Natural Touch: Birth Care and Beyond, a City of Bridgeport American Rescue Plan Grant: provides supports for those receiving maternal health services through OPTIMUS Health Care, including postpartum check-ins for moms and babies, and education and support groups for fathers, partners, and those who are breastfeeding.
When we invest in the first years of a child’s life, the returns for our communities are highest, and can reduce the need for more expensive interventions later. In fact, economic studies show that early investments provide a 13% return on investment through better academic, health, social, and economic outcomes in later life.
If you’d like to support the national movement for pre-natal to three programs and policies that give babies the best start in life, you can sign on to their open letter today.
Grant Funding Available: Emergency Food and Shelter Program
Life can turn unexpectedly, and our neighbors may need emergency support with food, rent, utilities, and housing help to stabilize their economic situation.
That’s why our United Way serves as facilitator for the local Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). We convene area funding committees to award federal funding to programs serving those at risk of hunger or homelessness in 2 local areas: Mid-Fairfield County (Norwalk, Weston, Westport, Wilton) and Greater Bridgeport (Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, Shelton, Trumbull).
Local non-profits and government agencies are encouraged to apply for funds currently totaling over $1.1MM. Applications are due by 2/25.
Corporate Partner Spotlight: Volunteer Impact
Hearty salute and thanks to our corporate partners who recently made a direct impact on the lives of families through ad-hoc collections and donations to our community partners. If your organization is passionate about a cause and wants to volunteer, let us know by emailing: fdouglass@unitedwaycfc.org.
Pictured from left to right: Hampford Research Inc. (coats and food for families lacking basic needs), MBI, Inc. (new hooded sweatshirts to uplift local families), Regency Centers (winter coats for families on a path to economic stability), Surgical Centers of Connecticut (school supplies and books for elementary students), Target Stores (holiday gifts and essentials for 2 young families in need), and Image First (not pictured) also provided comfort (coats and toys for families accessing support services)
““Giving is not about making a donation. It’s about making a difference.””